People love to jaw about the so-called "death of print" brought on by the Internet, but from where we're sitting, book design has never been more interesting. And Maria Fischer's "Traumgedanken" ("Thoughts on Dreams") goes one step further with a breathtaking design that uses delicately stitched thread to summon not just the skewing, unpredictable logic of dreams, but the connections of the web itself.

We’re using story-based marketing more and more with our clients, to fantastic results. Here are three ways to take marketing tools you probably already use and, with the right team behind you, transform them to story-based marketing.

The road to producing truly meaningful creative work is fraught with obstacles, some of which may feel like they’re out of your control. What if the money runs out, for example? Or the inspiration runs dry? What if the team isn’t cohesive? Or the work being created isn’t the work you feel in your heart? These are all valid concerns that can halt the process of bringing your creative vision to life. But you have to realize one thing: These things are in your control. Every single one of them.

When I started working with Annie Hart and Katie Gutierrez Painter on my book, I really had no idea where it was headed, or how it would all come together. In fact, like so many of my own clients, I often felt lost throughout this process. Over the last eight months the three of us got together weekly and Annie pulled out my most poignant business, creative, and personal stories so that Katie could document them. But remaining objective was something I have not been able to do well. My view of my life is infinite, it has no edges, and yet, we have to put a frame arou

After nine months, the website for Round Table Companies (www.roundtablecompanies.com) is up and running! While we’re still pending another two months or so of building out the portfolio sections, it’s in good shape and ready to unveil to our clients.

Today’s call with Corey and Annie was a bit different for me. Usually, I’m hearing Corey’s stories for the first time, at least for the most part. I’m able to listen objectively, with no preconceptions, like a reader opening a book for the first time. This lets me see or feel where the gaps in the story are, so that we can address them later in writing. The story we focused on today, however, was one I actually experienced with Corey. That is, for the good parts.

The necessity for re-branding usually arises when the status quo is disrupted—hopefully, in a good way. If your company’s core values, target customer base, and/or product and service range have changed, for example, it might be time to consider re-branding to more accurately represent what you’ve become.

In the last few years, I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with
hundreds of very creative, very brilliant people who find such joy in
pursuing their art. But many of these same people find it difficult or
impossible to see their art as a business-or, conversely, to make a
business of their art. Art, some of them feel, has no place for
business. It’s a place for passion and whimsy and discovery; how can
business possibly fit in among these things?

Make no mistake: To make a business of your art takes courage; just not for the reasons many creatives think.